I’ve kept thinking a bit about the whole idea of - for the lack of a better term - noncompetitive riding, what we can do about it and where we sit.

I’m not sure all these notes flow, but they do seem related.

The thought I’ve come back to is that a lot of what gets talked about in the Rivendell Readers - the “Country Bike” idea, useful and practical designs and accessories, and the whole S24O idea - are precisely the type of perspective that could lead to a true bicycling lifestyle approach.

One of the weird things that happens is that through my work (not in the bike industry), I’ve had people I know pretty well begin biking regularly. From their descriptions, they’ve reached a decent level of fitness and I’ve been trying to encourage them to go with me on a ride (we’ve never ridden together). This has continued to be a fizzling proposition. The reasons are vague, but it has come out that they both feel “they’d be holding me back” on the ride - simply that they weren’t fast enough.

I try to explain that when riding “with” someone, I ride with someone. Clearly I am using the wrong verb or modifier, or some inappropriate tone of voice, because this hasn’t worked. But, I keep cajoling and hopfully it will.

And I think that’s the level of effort needed. We (as members of the RBW list) are a desparately small slice of a subset of cycling as it is practiced. I think however if we go out and have a visibly great time riding, other folks will act to resolve the disconnect between what fun we are having and the approach that they have found that might not be working as well.

In our area (SF Bay) there are a ton of clubs and group rides and fast kids flitting about. Most seem to hold onto that “racing heritage”* that permeates bicycling, but there are smart folks out there who can learn by example.

As JimG & I rolled back onto the road in Pt. Reyes Station, there were probably 40 riders lolling around eating and chatting. As we moved away, Jim said that he loved to watch people react to our bikes, because they looked confused. Fenders and decent sized bags will do that to people. But, we were out, enjoying the sun and fine weather and having at least as much fun as the Bento Box and Gel crowd.

I’m sure people looked at us and thought “mmm…heavy bikes”. Now, “heavy” is easy to quantify and consider, but it doesn’t stand a chance against “fun”.

Riding around on a “different looking” bike, it’s easy to be regarded as “cliquish” - there are such easy visual markingsof modern tribalism. So, I think it is important to reach across such divisions whenever possible. We’ve got to be the “fun” people to ride with, whether by demeanor, deed or bringing appropriate beverages and baked goods.

Being able to fill a rail car (or a bus, large van, etc.) starts with a few like-minded people building into a group that shares the same values. It begins with a concrete idea of what the ride should be like, or it will devolve into a much more competitive endeavour. Let’s call this goal a “meander”.

It probably starts with one person saying, “I’m going to ride to there, and I’m going to go at a pace that lets me see hawks and rolling fog banks, winds and wildflowers.” Maybe you get some like-minded folks, maybe you end up riding alone once or twice.

Take photos, write it up, email the participants afterward and share with this distributed tribe. Have Fun. Give people ideas and the energy to do the same in their neck of the woods. The “three-speed” ride was a great example, and there are a ton more if you start looking. WOMBATS rides, mixed-terrain outings, all good stuff, all easy to set in motion.

*and I reckon you already know this, but I’ve got nothing against racing or riding fast, just the fact that it seems to be the only way to “enjoy” the sport. It’s like writing using only verbs.

6 Responses to “Setting The Pace”

beth h Says:
January 21st, 2008 at 10:04 am
When I did the GYGIG charity ride last August, mine was the only bike with fenders, in spite of a weekend forecast that called for rainy periods throughout. it was also one of only two or three steel road bikes out of 60. In addition, I brought wool and rain gear. All the extra preparedness added to my slower times and made me among the dead effin’ last to finish each day. And when I realized that I would be swept off the course on the last day because I could not finish “in time” — for a CHARITY ride, mind you — I knew I had doubts about doing this ride again.
I went home, gave it some serious thought, and decided that as long as such charity rides (including GYGIG) were to be run like quasi-races, I could not sign up to do it again. It bummed me out, because I did not want to bail out on a ride whose cause I believe in (and, frankly, benefit from). But there’s no point in spending all the money and training time to participate in an event where I’m practically guaranteed not to be able to ride the whole distance.
This year, I still plan to sign up for the handful of populaires on the schedule. Jury’s still out on the 200km. Meanwhile, I’m throwing a social ride next Sunday, 30-35 miles with coffee stops. Average speed 12 to 13 mph. Wanna come up? = )

reverend dick Says:
January 21st, 2008 at 11:55 am
I’m on board. The fun train, that is. Too few of us know the value of a hot cup of coffee or a cold glass of beer with bikes. Contact me if you come down to Monterey.

beth h Says:
January 21st, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Omigosh I would be SO THERE! I am working on Sweetie to plan a trip to the Bay Are sometime in the next year, a vacation week, complete with bikes on the rear rack and a visit to RivLoveCentral. (If she wants to visit our pals in Berzerkeley while I go play Bike Freak, that’s fine too). Stay tuned, and feel free to suggest gentle but persuasive comments that will tip the scales in my favor.
(Other option is, of course, to start nudging RivendellInk to host another Weekend, and pray that Amtrak doesn’t flake out on me…)
There are tiems that I’d like to bring a little of the Bay Area to PDX.

scott Says:
January 21st, 2008 at 8:31 pm
There you go, making sense again. (No Talking Heads jokes, please.)
It’s hard to take a different approach to something and still convince people that you’re not being divisive or exclusive, but your approach makes sense. Let people see other sane, friendly people having fun rather than being over-intense, and the idea will spread. Pictures and stories.
This is tweaking my Walter Mittyish ideas about magazine publishing….